Shoe spike



Feb. 5, 1952 J. R. BERNSTEIN SHOE SPIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1949 INVENTOR. JE.BerrzSiei12/.

Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE SPIKE Joseph R. Bernstein, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 28, 1949, Serial No. 118,249

v Claims. (01. 36-59) 1 This invention relates to traction elements for shoe soles and has particular reference to what are conventionally known as spikes adapted for insertion into the soles of golf shoes, track shoes, etc.

An object of the invention is to produce at the lowest possible cost a simplified composite unit adapted for insertion in the sole of a shoe at the same time eliminate any possibility oi relative movement between the component parts of the assembly.

The type of spike with which this invention is concerned is customarily inserted, as by threading into a previously positioned socket or otherwise, into the sole of a shoe used for golf or track. The stress and strain placed on shoes used for these athletic activities is considerable and it is very important that the spike be rigid and strong. Any rupture or deformation due to yielding under strain might result in injuring the athlete and does, of course, re-

. suit in the need for replacement.

Various efforts have been made to attain the objectives noted above. For the most part spikes which have proved successful have been one-piece, solid, integral constructions which are either molded or cast as a unit and which for that reason are relatively expensive. Some efforts have been made to devise a. composite spike formed from a plurality of component parts. Such an arrangement lends itself to lowered production costs but it has been difiicut to so construct an integrated composite spike that there could be no relative movement of parts under the great strain to which these devices are subjected.

My invention solves the cost problem by providing a composite unit built up of a plurality of component elements, all of which are inexpensive to produce and the assembly of which, due to the cooperative relationship between the parts, is a simple and inexpensive procedure.

Another important phase of the invention resides in the method of assembly, whereby the parts are integrated into a solid unit with a minimum of assembly operations.

Various other objects and meritorious features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing the component parts in perspective;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same parts in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a section through the assembled device;

Fig. 4 is an elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a somewhat modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a section through the assembled device, and

Fig. 7 is an elevation thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, the composite traction element or spike comprises three component elements. These are an externally threaded sleeve broadly designated by the numeral ID, a centrally apertured washer broadly designated by the numeral l2, and a shouldered spike broadly indicated by the numeral It.

The sleeve I0 embodies a cylindrical axial bore 16 and is threaded externally as indicated at it from one end along a portion of its length. The other end of the sleeve is shouldered to provide a noncircular end 20 which, in the form illustrated, is squared. A peripheral flange 22, here shown as circular, lies between the noncircular or squared end of the sleeve and the inner terminal point of the threading Hi.

The washer I2 is preferably in the form of a disc and is provided with a central opening 24 which is noncircular and conforms precisely with the configuration of the end 20 of the sleeve. The depth of the noncircular or squared end 20 of the sleeve conforms precisely to the thickness of the washer I2 so that, when the end of the sleeve is seated in the central opening 24 of thewasher, flange 22 lies flush against one face of the washer and the end face of the sleeve lies flush with the opposite face of the washer, thus positively preventing relative rotathe prongs of a wrench for purposes which will be more clearly described hereinafter.

The shouldered spike l4 comprises a conical biting portion 30 adapted to dig into the shoe supporting surface, such as turf, etc., and a shank portion 32. The bite portion 30 is separated from shank 32 by a flange or shoulder 34. The shank 32 is cylindrical for a portion a: of its length immediately adjacent shoulder 34. From the end of the cylindrical portion the shank is tapered inwardly toward its free end, the taper being very slight and preferably extending from 0.0 at the midsection of the shank where the cylindrical portion ends to approximately .003

' at the free end of the shank. The end face of the fully described hereinafter. The diameter of the cylindrical portion of shank 32 is dimensioned to provide a press fit in the bore l6 of sleeve ID.

All the component elements which make up this composite unit are quickly and cheaply fashioned. The washer I! may be stamped and sleeve Ill and spike M are readily extruded on conventional extrusion machines.

To assemblathesquared*end 20 of sleeve 10 is seated in .the central opening 24 of washer l2 and the shank 32 of spike I4 is forced by power into the bore of the sleeve, thereby freezing the parts together in the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The washer is clamped tightly between the shoulder 34 of the spike and flange22 .of the sleeve. Facilitated by seat 36 in the end face of shank 32, the outer or free end ofshank 32 is peened over toward the wall of the sleeve,-.expanding the tapered portion of the shank against theinner wall of the sleeve and rolling, if the shank is made slightly longer than the sleeve, the rim or peripheral edgeof the shank slightly .over the endof the sleeve'to further rigidify and integrate theassembly. "The tapered portion of the shank facilitates entry'thereof into the sleeve during the assembling operation.

The modification illustrated in Figs. consists of two component unitsrather than three. Sleeve '38 and washer 40 are formed as an integral unit. "'I'he'shanklportion 42 of shouldered spike M is inserted .inithesleeve bylpower press, the shoulder Mibearing'against'the face of the washer, and the assembly is'further rigidifiedand integrated by Vpeening in the manner described in conjunction with the earlier mentioned modification. The integral sleeve and washer 38, in

may-readily be formed by extrusion. 7

In'lieu of uniting the-elements bypower-press- .ing the shank of the spike into the sleeve, such shank may be 'freely received'in'an unthreaded sleeve of softer metal than the spike and the thread then rolled into the sleeve. This operations simultaneously 'forms the thread and forces the metal of thesleeve tightly .into engagement with the wall of the'shank'to thereby freeze the parts firmly together.

As is doubtless apparent from the foregoing, the assembled spikes are adapted to be threaded into sockets previously inserted into the sole of a shoe. The prongs of a wrenchare insertedjinto openings 26 and 28 in the washer for this purpose. The washers arepreferably concaved or dished out after the assembling operation. The

.rimon the under face of the washer under such circumstances digs into the sole of the shoe as the spike is threaded tightly into its receiving socket.

Having described certain preferred .forms of the invention, various modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art and for that rea son I wish to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A traction element for shoe soles comprising a washer having a central opening and an externally threaded sleeve coaxial with said opening extending normal to the plane of the washer, and a spike having a shank at one end frictionally received within said sleeve.

2. A traction element for shoe soles comprising a washer having a central opening and an externally'threaded sleevecoaxial with said opening extending normal to the plane of the washer,

and a shouldered spike having a shank extending beyond the shoulder, said shank being frictionally received within said sleeve with the shoulder abuttingonelface of the washer.

..circularopening seated over the correspondingly formed end of the sleeve and abutting said flange, and .a shouldered spike having a shank pressfitted into said sleeve from the washer end thereof. said washer'being gripped between the shoulder cf the spike and theflange of the sleeve.

4. A composite traction element for shoe soles comprising a wa'sher'having a noncircular central opening, an externally threaded sleeve havinga noncircular portionat one end and a flange disposed between saidlportion and the thread of thesleevasaid.noncircular portion of the .sleeve being seated .in the washer opening with the flange abutting one face of the Washer, said sleeve being coaxial with the washer opening, and aspikehaving .ashank 'at one end forming a shoulder, said shank being press-fitted-into the sleeve from the washer .end thereof to thereby grip the washer between said shoulder and said flange.

5. An article of manufacture comprising a sleeve externally threadedfrom one end along a portion of its length, the other end portion of .said sleeve'being shouldered to provide a noncircular end, and a peripheral flange between said end and the termination of the threaded portion.

JOSEPH R. BERNSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

